PRINCE Andrew paid flying visits to two of the region's most successful businesses on Tuesday.

The Duke of York, wearing a heavy blue mac to guard against a fierce gale, made Toyota's engine-making plant on Deeside Industrial Park his first port of call.

After leaving Toyota, he was shown around Airbus UK's West Factory.

At Toyota, he watched as the 1,500,000th engine to be built at the plant since it opened little more than 11 years ago rolled off the production line.

And to mark the occasion of his visit, he was invited by general manager John Burton to start up the engine for the first time.

Following lunch, he was given a tour of the plant and saw how Toyota Avensis engines are built.

'He spoke to me and my team,' said engine-assembly team leader Duane Harley.

'There has been a bit of a buzz around the place since we found out the Prince was coming.

'We explained to him exactly how we put engines together and he seemed genuinely interested in what was going on.'

He added: 'He said he was surprised we don't build our engines in batches, but we only build specific engines ordered by customers.'

Avensis engine builder Mark Baker also chatted to the Prince.

'My 11-year-old daughter, Danielle, will be made up,' he said. 'She obviously knows about the Royals and when she finds out I spoke to them it will make her day.

'I just explained to him how parts are lined up ready to be dropped into engine blocks.'

He added: 'The whole plant is really proud because his visit is recognition of our achievements.'

The Prince then went to Broughton to visit Airbus UK's West Factory, where the wings for the A380 Super-Jumbo are built.

The factory is constructing its fourth set of wings and the Prince was taken around the factory to see each stage of development, with representatives from the Welsh Development Agency, Airbus vice-president in charge of manufacturing, Brian Fleet, and long-time Airbus campaigner Lord Barry Jones.